Crocus January - 2009

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very nice C. cyprius Tony !!
I just received some seed of it from the exchange... remind me to compare them with yours in 4 or 5 years ... 

[Rob Potterton]

Sorry much too busy to keep upto date with these proceedings, so the following comments don't refer to current theme but ......

Earlier in these discussions Mark offered the possibility of supplying seed for Crocus chrysanthus 'Sunspot', please be aware that the seedlings are not always true, often the black style reverts to type.

Reference Crocus sieberi 'Bowles White', the RHS Plantfinder 2008 - 2009 edition states 'Bowles White' see sieberi 'Albus'. I much prefer BW myself.

[Oron Peri]

A few ones today:
C. corsicus
C. olivieri olivieri - Chios
C. vitellinus

[Joakim B]

Oron I see that You grow them in clay pots but wonder if You can grow them in the open or need a green house to protect from the heat?
I believe that the summer is not that different between Your place and Portugal even if the winter here is this year from zero and ten degrees rather than normal 5 to 15 C.
Are the olivieri sensitive or generally farely easy? Just compared with "gardencenter yellows" like "yellow gigant"?
I have a only one yellow crocus out now and it seems to flower even in slight rain and a cloudy day. It was even open late in the evening but I do not know if it was open at night. It is just a gardencenter bulb but it helped to give some colour on a gray day. it is a yellow gigant but is under a different tree than this one.
Since the kids almost have the same name I am curious about the C. olivieri.

All the best
Joakim

[Oron Peri]

Joakim,

I grow all my bulbs in pots outside, not in a greenhouse because that would be too hot in summer.
If you are looking for the yellow flowering species, C. vitellinus, C. graveolens, and  C. Olivieri ssp. olivieri are doing fine here, so there is no reason they wont do well with you.
Take in consideration that olivieri has a tiny flower, much smaller than the Dutch cultivated ones...

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Nice pix as usual Oron !
I like the colour of C. olivieri - such a warm orange !! 

[mark smyth]

Crocus dalmaticus is about to flower in the garden. Sadly there arent as many corms as there used to be.

And the pot of possible Crocus flavus. I showed the first flower last week.

[Joakim B]

Thanks for the information Oron.
I knew it was smaller but will see how much smaller when I get it. By the way are You growing in pots to enjoy them better or is it not possible to grow them in the soil directly?
It is mostly the name that s funny with that as my kids are Oliverira (as in olive tree in Portuguese). That name and all other animal and plant name in Portugal comes from the jews changing name and became "new Christians" in Portugal when the spanish inquisistion hit Portugal.
I will have my eyes open for the C. olivieri.
All the best and lovely to see some colour. I have more crocus coming but most just common cultivars we will see of what coulor when they bloom.
Joakim

[Roma]

Hurrah! My Crocus baytopiorum are going to flower this year.  I was given them in 2005, they flowered in2006 then increased in number but did not flower in 06 and 07.  Crocus korolkowii is coming in to flower with me now and Sunspot bought from Rob Potterton when he talked to the Aberdeen group in October is ready to open if we get some sun in the next two days.

[Oron Peri]

Thanks Luc.

Thanks for the information Oron.
I knew it was smaller but will see how much smaller when I get it. By the way are You growing in pots to enjoy them better or is it not possible to grow them in the soil directly?
Joakim

Joakim,

I grow all my bulbs in pots for a few reasons, first we have a terrible pest by the name of Blind Mole Rat [Spalax],
that every now and then maneges to enter my garden, this underground Rat can eat an entire collection over one night.
Second,  it is easier to take care of small bulbous plants when they are in pots, it is easier to observe them, to move them from place to place in order to get more or less sun. end some times to enjoy them indoors too.

[Joakim B]

Thanks for that information Oron.
That looks like an eating machine
Some people put underground cage around their bulbs to be able to have them in the garden.
All the best
Joakim

[David Shaw]

I'm pleased that Oron's pet hampster does not live in our garden. Ugh!
We had a nice sunny morning and I was moving crocus pots into the sunniest positions for a photo shoot. Just as they started to open up the sun went behind clouds and now we have heavy sleet. And I have now got to go out! Oh, well.

[mark smyth]

There was some chat in the Galanthus section about backgrounds and enhancing photos.

I've just taken some photos of sieberi 'Bowles White' and experimented a little.

1. unaltered
2. auto contrast
3. auto levels

a few in the pot.

[Gerry Webster]

There was some chat in the Galanthus section about backgrounds and enhancing photos.

Mark - can you give a reference for the posts please?

[mark smyth]

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2931.120